Here are some answers to the questions that appear most often in my inbox. If you have additional questions of general interest, I will do my best to answer them here.
What happened to the Iridium flares?
Iridium decommissioned and replaced the satellites that produced bright and predictable flares. Most have been deorbited. A few are kept in spare, but they are no longer stabilized and their flares are not predictable.
Why are east and west swapped on the sky chart?
The chart is meant to be held against the sky. If you used the same layout as for ground maps, the constellations would appear to be mirrored. You can change the layout in the settings (Menu > Settings > Sky chart), but we recommend to keep the overhead mode and not use the map mode. An interesting alternative is the option to flip the display based on the orientation of the device.
Here is a good on how to use a star chart.
How does the red compass thingy work?
The compass indicator always points to the north. If you hold the device in front of you and turn until the indicator is at the top, you are facing north. To find a satellite that is displayed on the chart, turn until its icon is between the indicator and the center of the chart.
Now raise your device against the sky. The red marker will turn into a reticule. Adjust the angle so that it is over the satellite icon. The device is now oriented in the direction of the satellite.
To identify an object in the sky, orient the device towards it while using the live sky chart. The reticule is now over the corresponding part of the chart.
Why is the compass off?
Magnetic fields are surprisingly fickle and can be influenced by metal or currents. If you're using a cover with magnets or metallic parts, try to remove it. Even a watch can influence the magnetic field.
After getting rid of the distortions, you can recalibrate the magnetometer by rotating the device around all three axis or by moving it in a .
Why don't I get predictions for a specific satellite?
If a satellite is not listed, there are either no passes in the prediction interval or the passes are not bright enough. You can use the "Search satellites" feature on the initial screen to see whether the satellite is listed. If it's missing, we either don't have up to date orbital parameters or the object is too dim to be of general interest. If it's in the list, but no passes are listed, you can try to reduce the (Menu > Settings > Minimum magnitude).
You can find passes of dim objects on our .
Why are there no visible passes in the middle of the night?
Passes become visible when it is dark enough while the sun still shines on a satellite. During the middle of the night, the satellites are in earth shadow and no longer illuminated.
Does the app work without a data connection?
If the app runs while a data connection is available, new orbital parameters for the satellites () are downloaded once per day. These TLEs will then be used even if the device is offline. However, predictions based on TLEs get imprecise after a few days. You should give the app a chance to download updated TLEs by starting it with a data connection.
Can I get a fullscreen sky chart?
The current version does not support a fullscreen display. If you're using a tablet, make sure to rotate it to landscape mode. The layout works much better this way.
Can I become a beta tester?
Yes. Simply follow the opt-in link for our or and enable using beta releases. The app will automatically get updated on your devices. If it isn't, there aren't any versions in beta testing. Once there are, you will be among the first people to test any new features.
Is there an iOS version of the app?
We can't provide an iOS version at the moment. We would like to do so in the future, but we don't have a release date.
Do I have to pay again if I switch to a new phone?
No. Your purchase is associated with your Google Play store account. It's the same as your Gmail account, if you have one. You can install the Pro version on any device associated with your account. You can even use the app on several devices in parallel.
I paid for the Pro version. Why do I still get adverts?
The Free and the Pro version are implemented as two separate apps. Please make sure to uninstall the Free version and install the Pro version.